Wu Baozhang didn't expect that Zhou Shaojin, who in her impression was gentle, weak and taciturn, would turn hostile when provoked and become aggressive in a blink of an eye.
Her face changed drastically, and she took a few steps back, forcing a smile and saying, "The second young lady of the Zhou family was joking. Why do we have to confront Miss Pan? It makes us look petty..."
The strong are afraid of the arrogant.
Wu Baozhang saw a hint of determination flash across Zhou Shaojin's brows. She was really afraid that Zhou Shaojin was young and ignorant, and did not understand the ways of the world, and would recklessly bring the matter to Pan Qing - she had heard everything Pan Qing and Pan Zhuo said clearly. Pan Qing looked gentle and kind, but he was actually very treacherous. When she had not yet figured out how to use this matter, she had alerted the enemy and made things clear to Zhou Shaojin. She did not want to be attacked from both sides and drag Pan Qing into it.
She quickly came up with an idea and said, "Second Miss, maybe I was dazzled and saw it wrong. It's my fault, please be magnanimous and don't bother with me." After she finished speaking, she was still a little worried, so she stepped forward to hold Zhou Shaojin's hand and said sincerely, "During the Dragon Boat Festival, Second Miss will come to our house to appreciate the flowers? Someone gave us two pots of Epiphyllum, and my father gave me one pot, which I keep in my room. My sister-in-law who takes care of my flowers and trees said that the Epiphyllum will bloom during the Dragon Boat Festival. A few days ago, I was thinking about whether to invite three or five close friends to hold a flower show, and coincidentally I met Second Miss. Since I came to Jinling, I haven't made many good friends. Second Miss must come to appreciate the flowers and show me your support!"
Wu Baozhang stopped his movements and looked like he was seeking peace.
How can it be so easy to stab yourself and leave
When Zhou Shaojin thought about his past life, he felt angry.
While Wu Baozhang was singing, reciting, and acting, her mind was racing. When Wu Baozhang reached out his hand, she let him hold hers and said calmly, "I still need my grandmother and aunt's approval before I can go out. We'll talk about it when the time comes!"
Didn't continue the topic.
Wu Baozhang breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn't help thinking complacently in his heart, Zhou Shaojin is young after all, and likes to hear nice things, so if he lowers his posture like this, the matter will be revealed. But he doesn't know what Zhou Shaojin's character is like? Is she a person who hides things? Just in case, he has to flatter her well so that she won't bother with him about this matter.
She smiled and took Zhou Shaojin's arm, saying, "Then I'll post a message for my sister then?"
"Okay!" Zhou Shaojin said, and went to Siyi Tower with Wu Baozhang, "But I don't know if my family will hold a lantern festival at that time. If you want to post an invitation, send someone to deliver it a few days in advance."
I'm really thinking about playing!
Wu Baozhang pouted inwardly, then was completely relieved and said with a smile: "The Cheng family is planning to hold a lantern festival on the Dragon Boat Festival! How much will that cost?" As she spoke, she realized she had said something wrong and could not help but glance at Zhou Shaojin, only to see Zhou Shaojin looking around, as if he did not notice what she said. She took a breath and heard Zhou Shaojin loudly shouting "Cousin Qing".
Her heart tightened, and before she had time to think about it, Pan Qing came over.
"What's the matter?" Pan Qing asked Zhou Shaojin.
She had a gentle smile, graceful manners, and still looked elegant, but in Zhou Shaojin's eyes, she was like an actor wearing a mask.
"The eldest daughter of the Wu family said that she saw me alone with Cousin Xu," Zhou Shaojin said, revealing a sarcastic smile. "She also said that Cousin Qing also saw me alone with Cousin Xu. I wanted to ask Cousin Qing directly and clearly: I was clearly not alone with Cousin Xu, so how could Cousin Qing say that she saw me alone with Cousin Xu? Isn't Cousin Qing spreading rumors?"
As she spoke, her expression turned into one full of grievance, but she thought in her heart: You, Wu Baozhang, said that the matter should be exposed, so let it be exposed. There is no such easy thing in the world!
Pan Qing was shocked, a cold light flashed in her eyes, and her gaze towards Wu Baozhang suddenly became sharp: "Miss Wu, what is going on? When did I see the second cousin of the Zhou family and cousin Xu together? You are also a lady from an official family, you can read and write, you must be responsible for what you say! I have been staying with my grandmother the whole time, and I went out halfway just to pass on a message to my brother on my mother's orders. All the elders present can testify to me that your nonsense is enough to ruin the relationship between us cousins. How can you be a guest in someone else's house and stir up the relationship between other sisters? Is this a family tradition of your Wu family?"
This speech not only questioned Wu Baozhang's character but also the Wu family's education. Most importantly, when she said this, she did not hide anything. She stood straight, upright and dignified. Her voice was neither too high nor too low, but just enough for the people in the hall to hear clearly.
It really is the right thing to do to bring Pan Qing in to fight against Wu Baozhang!
Zhou Shaojin quietly took a step back, leaving the main battlefield to Wu Baozhang and Pan Qing.
Wu Baozhang never dreamed that Zhou Shaojin was two-faced. He said nice things to her face, but in the blink of an eye, he turned his face and sold her out mercilessly. She was horrified and cursed Zhou Shaojin in her heart, but she had to fight back. She smiled and said, "Miss Pan, this is completely a misunderstanding of the second daughter of the Zhou family. When I heard the lead singer of the Ma Band singing "Night Run" on the Peony Terrace, I suddenly felt dizzy and went out for a walk. Because I was greedy for the beautiful scenery of the Peony Terrace, I unknowingly walked into a corridor..."
Since you don't leave me any leeway, don't blame me for being ruthless.
She decided to threaten Pan Qing.
But she forgot that this was the Cheng family's home court.
Before she could finish her words, Jiang, who had received the news from the maid, walked in with a gloomy face and asked Pan Qing in a stern voice: "Qing girl, what is the matter that the eldest daughter of the Wu family is talking about? Your mother just asked you to pass a message to your brother, so how did you involve the second daughter of the Zhou family and Mr. Xu?"
It looked like a scolding, but in fact he was testifying for Pan Qing.
Wu Baozhang secretly cried out in dismay.
She didn't expect the elders from the third branch of the Cheng family to come so soon, and she didn't expect that the elders from the third branch of the Cheng family would be so blatant in protecting their shortcomings.
Wu Baozhang was in a dilemma - if she argued, she would be insignificant and her words would not count, and who would the people present believe compared to the elders of the third branch of the Cheng family? If she did not argue, she would admit Pan Qing's accusation against her, and then she would be accused of "likes to gossip" and "the girl of the Wu family is uneducated".
How could the stepmother, who was only trying to find a good marriage for her own daughter, let her off easily
I am afraid that even if my brother helps to plead for me, my father will still be furious.
She felt a chill all over her body when she thought about it, and she quickly lowered her head and started to cry.
Some people in the hall frowned, some whispered, and some advised: "Miss Wu, stop crying! Today is the birthday of the Cheng family's ancestor..."
Wu Baozhang cried even harder.
She just wanted others to see how the eldest wife of the third room was bullying her!
Jiang was furious, with a hint of disgust in her eyes, but she had to smile and stepped forward to hold Wu Baozhang's shoulders, and gently advised: "Child, is there anything you can't say nicely? Did Qing girl bully you? Tell me quickly, I'll help you teach her a lesson..."
Pan Qing was stunned.
She didn't expect Wu Yuzhang to react so quickly, and she suddenly felt a little regretful.
After Pan Qing and Pan Zhuo broke up, she was still worried about her brother. She walked to the Peony Terrace and then turned back. From a distance, she saw her brother following Cheng Xu into a small path in the fortress. However, Wu Baozhang was talking and laughing with Cheng Xu's attendant maid.
Pan Qing remembered very clearly that when she came out, Wu Baozhang was sitting behind Mrs. Wu and listening to her, but when she went back, Wu Baozhang appeared where she was talking to her brother.
She had been a little unsure before, but when Zhou Shaojin called her to confront Wu Baozhang, she realized that not only Wu Baozhang had heard her conversation with her brother, but Zhou Shaojin might have also heard what she said to her brother.
But no matter what, Zhou Shaojin is one of us.
At least we have to get rid of Wu Baozhang before we can settle the matter with Zhou Shaojin.
So she stood on Zhou Shaojin's side without thinking.
But now it seems that this decision may be wrong - Zhou Shaojin is cowardly and has no opinion. Although she can't save Zhou Shaojin, she doesn't like to have someone around who can't help with anything and will always hold you back. Wu Baozhang is different. His scheming, skills, and even reactions are all first-class. Even if such a person can't be a friend, it's better not to become an enemy.
Pan Qing planned to let Wu Baozhang go.
She glanced at Zhou Shaojin, stepped forward and pulled Jiang, her lips slightly twitching, and was about to speak. Zhou Shaojin, who had been standing by and had not spoken, suddenly stepped forward and pointed at a maid and said, "Go and get a handkerchief for Miss Wu to wipe her tears." Then she turned to Wu Baozhang and said softly, "I have lived in the Cheng family for so many years, and the elders of the Cheng family are not unreasonable. If you have any grievances, just tell the elders, and the elders will definitely make a decision for you. If you cry like this, others will inevitably misunderstand that Aunt Lu bullied you. Is Miss Wu going to learn from the censor and die for his remonstrance?"
She said the last sentence with a smile, and there was even a hint of sarcasm in her tone, but there was a hidden needle in it, suggesting that Wu Baozhang was very competitive and would cry and make a fuss if he disagreed with something. He had to win, and he did not have the gentleness and tolerance that a lady should have.
Pushed Wu Baozhang to the edge of the cliff!
Pan Qing's eyes lit up, and he quietly took a few steps back, immediately giving up the idea of rescuing Wu Baozhang.
Zhou Shaojin saw this and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Pan Qing is indeed not someone worth associating with.
However, since she was the one who started the matter, how could she just withdraw if she wanted to
She called out to Pan Qing: "Cousin Qing, come and persuade Miss Wu too!"
Everyone's eyes fell on Pan Qing - she was the one who made Wu Baozhang cry!
Pan Qing's hair almost stood up.
Zhou Shaojin, is this still the Zhou Shaojin she knows
Kill two birds with one stone!
No, it's not just killing two birds with one stone.
She was from the third house, so she was dragged into this. Cheng Xu was from the first house, and she was from the fourth house. Today, the second house was treating... Except for the fifth house, all the other members of the Cheng family stood against Wu Baozhang... However, the fifth house was useless and could be ignored...
Pan Qing suddenly felt some sympathy for Wu Baozhang.
Today's incident will definitely not end well.
And even if Wu Baozhang could escape today's disaster, if she wanted to gain a foothold in Jinling City in the future and find a good marriage in Jinling City, she could only hope that the Bodhisattva would open his eyes to heaven!
She walked over slowly, but she no longer felt the lightheartedness she had felt before when facing Zhou Shaojin.
※
Gloomy Monday, endless things to do...
※(To be continued)